Individuals and Families

Washingtonians must get better prepared before the next big earthquake, and practice how to protect ourselves when it happens. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations do both.

Scroll down for basic instructions for how individuals and families and other households (roommates, etc.) can plan their drill, tips for getting prepared, and suggestions for sharing the ShakeOut with others. With your participation, this may be the largest earthquake drill in Washington ever!

Other ways to participate:

Who is participating?

SHAKEOUT SPOTLIGHT

The Jessop family did their drill at home, catching their four home-schooled children off guard.

They dropped, covered and held on, and they also practiced giving medical attention, checking the utilities, and inspecting the house’s structure. They also made a list of emergency supplies they would get soon.

They feel at peace knowing exactly what to do, and now plan to participate in a drill each year.

PLAN YOUR DRILL

Today:

Register to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.

Between now and October 15:

Consider what may happen when an earthquake shakes your area. Plan what you will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to protect yourself and then recover quickly.

Talk to other people about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.

Download and review the ShakeOut preparedness guide (PDF) for people with disabilities or access and functional needs.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if you are in bed, outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations.)

While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?

After your drill is complete, have discussions about what was learned and incorporate these lessons into your disaster plan.

GET PREPARED

What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards. The following are recommendations for what you can do now to prepare, in addition to your ShakeOut drill: